4 reasons you should hit the gym (other than weight loss)

For any of us that have ever bought a gym membership at the beginning of the year, either we’ve stayed vigilant and gotten into better shape, or we went regularly for a few weeks and gave then gave up. Then there are those of us who are somewhere in-between. We haven’t been regularly in a long time but we keep fighting to make use of that membership. If you’re still trying to inspire yourself to be a regular gym rat, here are several reasons why you should hit the gym, other than losing weight.

Better sleep: Who doesn’t want to improve the sleep they get? Studies have shown that exercise directly effects the quality of your sleep. In fact, in a study of the long-term effects that exercise has on sleep, “after 4 to 24 weeks of exercise, adults with insomnia fell asleep more quickly, slept slightly longer, and had better sleep quality than before they began exercising.”

Less sickness: Regular exercise can help decrease your chance of heart disease, as well as other illnesses like diabetes and osteoporosis. Being fit can also decrease your likelihood of contracting seasonal illnesses like cold and flu by almost 50 percent. Your body can take a beating when you exercise regularly, and this will teach your body to fight back and become stronger.

Increased happiness: We all like being happy, and exercise can help you improve your happiness. Exercise can decrease your risk of developing depression and anxiety and the endorphins released when you exercise can turn your frown upside down. You usually feel great after you finish a workout, and these endorphins are the reason why.

Extra energy: You might think a workout would take a lot out of you, but your body wants to be active. When you’re stuck in a rut, it’s hard to get free, but once you do, you’ll feel better than ever. Not only will your energy level increase, but your body will become stronger and your quality of life will improve.